South Carolina baseball star earns summer league all-star home run derby crown

South Carolina baseball fans don't need to be told this, but Ethan Petry is really good at baseball. The 2023 All-American was excellent again in 2024, and despite playing just two years so far with the Gamecocks, he is nearing the top of the all-time USC leaderboard in most power stats. His unlimited potential with a bat in his hands has made him a top-5 MLB Draft prospect for next year.

This summer, Petry has played with the Yourmouth-Dennis Red Sox of the Cape Cod Baseball League, and he has been one of the best players at the Cape. Because of that, he was named a Cape Cod All-Star, and on Saturday, the big right-hander took part in the CCBL All-Star Game Home Run Derby. Fans were hopeful that the Gamecock representative would perform well, and Petry did not disappoint.

In a "swing-off," Petry defeated Louisville Cardinals first baseman Nate Earley in the final round to secure the trophy. He hit 12 long balls during the competition and 2 in the swing-off.

In the Cape Cod Baseball League All-Star Game that followed, Petry scored the very first run of the game. His East All-Stars lost the game 9-8 to the West All-Stars.

To say that Petry has dominated at Cape Cod would be an understatement. He leads the entire league in OPS (1.192) and slugging percentage (.726), ranks in the top-5 in home runs (8), doubles (7), total bases (61), runs (21), on-base percentage (.466), and batting average (.357), and sits in the top-10 in hits (30) and RBI (21). He is one of just five players to be granted an intentional walk, and his OPS number is nearly 200 points higher than the 2nd-place hitter.

If Petry can carry over his success into next season, he will claim multiple South Carolina baseball records, and his Gamecocks will have a good leg up on the competition as they continue fighting to return to national contention.

New head coach Paul Mainieri, Petry, and the Gamecocks will start fall practice in September.